Is Nocatee becoming a suburban Sturgis?
Local Facebook groups have exploded over e-biking teens rampaging across the community’s serene streets — flipping birds, cussing, and allegedly using racist language.
One prominent page has seen repeated posts from residents reporting unruly behavior — some of them featuring photos and videos of the adolescent offenders.
This week, one man produced several pictures of a crew he said made obscene gestures at him — and used racist language.
One of the images shows a teen trio hoisting their middle fingers in tandem while atop their bikes.
The pictures did not reveal their faces, but the resident said he hoped their parents recognize them and address their behavior.
“I was about to catch hold of them and call the parents directly about the racist comments and language they were using, but then let it go as they are kids, in hope that the parents will get into a good healthy discussions with them,” he wrote on a post.
Another user posted a video of a budding Barger challenging a motorist to a race.
A separate complainant wrote that he saw a group antagonizing a rival in front of his home and then riding away across yards after being confronted.
A convenient mode of transport, e-bikes have become increasingly popular in an area bereft of public transportation.
Hopped up on Prime and adolescent abandon, e-bike crews have become a fixture in Nocatee’s commercial hub known as Town Center.
While residents said most kids use them responsibly to visit friends, head to local pools and get to school, a rogue subset is wreaking havoc.
Some commentators assert that the issue should not be overblown, and that kids are rarely exemplars of decorum.
E-bikes — which can cost more than $3,000 and reach speeds of approaching 30 miles an hour — could soon face a reckoning.
Commissioner Ann Taylor broached the issue at a panel meeting this month, saying she’s been flooded by resident anger.
“There have been numerous reports from concerned citizens about children riding e-bikes through parking lots, streets, sidewalks, shopping centers in an unsafe manner,” Taylor said. “Some of these e-bikes can reach speeds of up to 28 miles per hour.”
Taylor said the county should take action, relaying that she spoke to St. Johns County Sheriff Robert Hardwick and county attorney Rich Komando about ways to curtail irresponsible e-bikers.
Taylor plans to bring a draft ordinance before the board, but did not specify what steps will be proposed.
A crackdown, she said, should be implemented “before a young child is injured.”
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3 Responses
Some of these are capable of speeds much more than 28 mph. The Sur-Ron’s (electric dirt bike) that you see around can go up to 75 mph depending on model. Haven’t you seen them recklessly riding wheelies in the streets?
“e-bikes” is a generic term. The electric bikes in question are actually e-dirt bikes. They look like motocross bikes. They have been seen going faster than traffic on Crosswater Parkway-45mph. -on the golf cart/bike paths. They are jumping moguls alongside roadways, careening down embankments to Nocatee Parkway, flying through parking lots and neighborhoods on streets challenging people just put for a walk. There are kids on e-bikes that do not speed around-those bikes look like a regular bicycle. None of them know the rules of the road and very few are wearing helmets. I am not against kids using e-bikes-they just need a course in road safety.
I’ve only seen a hand full of e-biker kids harassing wildlife several times. Every time I confront them they drive off, but they are throwing garbage into the lake at Lakeside…some of these kids have zero respect. Unfortunately, some parents just let their children do whatever they want…